Family Treasure

Father's Day 2012

Fathers. I had FOUR! Two Fathers-in-Law. Both darlings. Fathers, quite a mixed bag. Yes, and grandfathers, with all those stepfathers, there were many grandfathers, too. My own two were both wonderful. I forgot to thank my parents for helping me to know them. They both made sure that we KNEW our grandparents, which left me with a deep, quiet sense of who I am and where I come from. A valuable gift when the world gets scary. On Sunday I will have a glass of wine with my darling Russell Winje and we will toast these men who formed (some of them) our DNA, our life view, and yes, even our physical features! I have my father's birthmark, on the inside of my right knee, exactly where his was. I have his eyebrows and silly top lip. I also have his temper - fortunately just a small one. From my maternal grandfather, photographs, cameras, clothes, beautiful cars. He returned from "Up North" changed from a reasonably quiet, almost shy man, to a fashion plate! Beautifully tailored pin striped suits, gorgeous cars, a beautiful woman on each arm - one of them my mother, the other, we won't discuss here...... He loved going to the races, horses and greyhounds and died in a motor accident, coming home from a poker game. Bestest, most loved father, was my stepfather, Dirk Petrus Joubert. An anquished alcoholic. Ferocious blue eyes. Adored my mother, loved me and my brother, Phil, unconditionally. He stopped drinking quite soon after marrying my mother and I appreciated his monumental effort so much. WONDERFUL sense of humour, respected and loved by all who knew him. He was my heart's father. I miss him. Cheers Dad!(s)

2015 Done.

...almost.   The years are flying by much too fast.   I blinked and this one was over.   It has been a very wonderful year in a lot of ways.   We're well and happy and somehow manage to survive in a tiny community with many limitations.

I am grateful that my two enterprises, The Cottage and The Spaza Shop seem to thrive - even without a spark of interest from most of the inhabitants of this Valley, other than a small handful of loyal supporters.  I wish I had a few more pairs of hands to help me with making stock for the Shop.    My knits seem to leave the house before I can find a place to display them! (Dankie Ouma) and The Cottage continues to have a steady stream of appreciative guests.  

Feeling a little introspective this last morning of 2015, here in our cosy warm bed with a cup of Russ' superb coffee at hand.

I miss our children deeply and the continued absence of our grandchildren or even news of our grandchildren fills me with sorrow.  Real bleeding weeping wounded sorrow.   I have to give up, though and lower my expectations right down to below ground level.  

I think that Geoffrey is still in jail.   There is no way of knowing.  I can't think about that.

What I CAN think about is the future, one day at a time.    Its a little scary, but what the heck, we Do scary.    I hope to complete a little Shopify page within the next week or two to move some stock from the shop.   Also to get our general garden into better shape with a couple of new shrubs, perhaps.   Certainly plantings in the beds and a general tidy up of the wild flower patch in the orchard.   The trees need pruning urgently and I am determined to finally whip the grapes into shape.  Dreams of a whimsical enchanted veggie patch continue.   Please note, dear blog, that these are not resolutions, just tentative plans which may or may not come to pass.  

We're having a glorious snowy white winter and Upper Lake is making real attempts to get fuller with every storm!   I dare to dream of purple camas meadows and flocks of migrating birds stopping to rest and a fox family in the yard and fruit and blossoms and birds busy all over the place.    The heat and drought has been punishing ...

We will have been married for fourteen years in January.  Fourteen years.   The longest I have ever lived anywhere, been with anyone.   And it does sadden me that we found each other so late.   If we found each other twenty years sooner, who knows what we could have accomplished together!  As it is, I savour every second of the life left to me.   Every second.

We have not decided on our travel adventures for 2016, aside from a Spring trip to Yosemite.  Did you hear me say that?   A.Spring.Trip.To.Yosemite.  The second one.  I never, in my most ambitious, wildest dreams, imagined that a Spring trip to Yosemite was in my future!   Never.    Somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good.   True words, Maria von Trapp.

Now, I'm going to play with my picture apps.    Thanks for listening.    Happy 2016 to the world, to our families and friends and to us.   The Winjes of Winjes Farm.

musings

Angels Camp memories

ANGEL’S CAMP NOVEMBER 2013

Diary (in brief) of a trip from Surprise Valley to Angel’s Camp and surrounding towns.

A good, uneventful trip to Reno.   Checked in.   Had dinner at the buffet – it was quite surreal to remember Pam and her crazy departure.   Ate too much, were both horribly uncomfortable afterwards.   Actually, I just had salad and chicken and veg, so feeling so awful was undeserved.   Slept well.  

This morning we had our coffee, a quick breakfast at the café and headed for the highway by 9am.   And what a highway!  

The new one, with the gorgeous bridge, going towards Road/route? It must be one of the most Beautiful roads in the world.    Its exciting to think that Lake Tahoe is just on the other side of those bleak mountains.   

Mountains, 24% grade, glorious trees and buttes and rocks and valley and alpine lakes and sunshine and some snow, even and fall colours on the other side when we reached oak level.   Can’t wait to get back to Murphy’s it looks so quaint and fun.    Also Ironstone winery.    Aso the caves and the Big Trees.    What a week we have ahead of us.

Went shopping a little to get fresh fruit and veg and some Rite Aid beer and ice cream.

Boob has been a bit sore and I couldn’t help wondering when it wilL be better or if it could be the beginning of something else?    I do hope not, with all my heart.   I love Russ, I love it here, so much.   Not ready to leave yet!!  Wish I could show all this to my children.   Must make dinner now.   Goodnight. 

November 2 2013

That was a fun day…..sales pitch in the morning, then to Sonora via Vallecita.   Quite lovely winding country roads with this golden California hills and Oak Trees dotting the landscape.   Sonora is picturesque, quite a few closed shops and ENDLESS traffic.   Found a yarn store and got new batteries for our watches.   We cross the Stanislaus River along the way, a beautiful bridge and alarmingly low waterline on the dam.  Got some earrng cards for the shop at Joannes and couldn’t resist picking up some beads.  

3 November 2013.

Murphy’s.   It was VERY busy and a little strange.   Congested streets and people everywhere, very few In the shops or carrying lots of shopping bags.   Much like Pilgrims in South Africa.  I think the marketing approach to tourist towns needs some serious rethinking.  One can only buy so much garbage before the penny drops.    We visited Ironstone winery and that was lovely.  I particularly liked seeing the gorgeous garden again.   Everything planted in old wine barrels.   HAVE to try that approach at home.  It will be much easier on my back!

 Empty parking lots at Ironstone.   Took some pictures I really like.     Supermarket, knitting, TV, dinner.  More TV.   A great massage for my destroyed shoulder.  I wonder what ELSE is going to turn up hurt after that silly summer.

Monday November 4 2013

Another perfect day.    Slept late, had a lazy bath while Russ napped.   Easy smoothie for breakfast.   Then we went to the railroad museum place.   Saw some astonishing pieces of equipment.   Some of it rusted almost to death, but the thought of the men who built them and then managed them was quite humble making.   Gorgeous trains, too.   Then to Columbia and wandered around the buildings a little.   Took some pictures.   Bought a charm and some silver earrings.  Found a marvelous soap and candle factory.   Some soaps for the Cottage and bricks of beeswax for the Shop    Quite thrilled with that  

THEN we went to the Roaring Cave.   Goodness me!  The spiral staircase to the bottom of the cave is a miracle in itself.   The cave, awesome in the truest sense of that word.   Glorious formations, stunning statistics, unbelievable nature.  Still.   Again.   The steps were many and steep.   I felt quite nauseous coming out, but managed not to embarrass myself!  We tried to find a high spot from which to watch the sunset, without success, but it was fun trying.    A quick stuffed squash and kale for dinner.   The end of a perfectly lovely day with my wonderful, loving, helpful, sweet, fun husband.    How lucky can one girl get?   Goodnight.    Going to start a shadow knitting project for my shop now.   Found out later that the stairs are eleven stories high!!!!

Note to self : remember my table (sugar bowl, butter dish and dressing jug) timeshares never provide the finer things…..found a gorgeous dress, a pr of khakis and a red sleeveless pullover while we were about it.   Then, supermarket to get provisions for dinner with Lou and Linda tomorrow night.   Brought it all back and set off or Calaveras Big Trees.    It was so lovely to walk and chat in the forest and fool around with the camera and play and snog and walk some more for what seemed like hours and hours.    Not another person in sight.  Came home via Sheep Camp Road around sunset and ended  up in the backdoor at Murphy’s.   Home, folded laundry, had a sub for supper and quickly  made a chard pie for tomorrow,    Now watching some dome thug movie with Hugh Jackman and a robot!    Sheesh.   Lovely lovely day with Russ.   Goodnight.

November 6 2013

Spent the morning busting around “stylng” for Lou & Linda’s visit.   What a pleasant surprise!  They preferred to stay here and have lunch instead of dinner – perfect decision.   I feel like Linda and I have been friends for years…..food worked, spinach pie, and conversation was unstoppable.   They have the same children/grandchildren heartaches we do.    Who wrote this world?? 

7 November 2013

Today was a last day sort of a day.  Went to explore that lovely dam we saw from the road.    Postoffice, few supplies, dollar store, back to sheep ranch road towards San Andreas (underwhelming) and home, to watch TV and eat roast vegetables.  Strange how many things we’ve watched, pertaining to California and this part of the world.   Tonight was Jack London, and his farm in Sonoma County in the Valley of the Moon.    To bed, to pack and drive to Reno tomorrow.   Goodnight.   God bless us and keep us safe.

Friday 8^th November 2013

And he did.   Keep us safe.  Another fabulous drive over Ebbett Pass today.   Lovely vista pictures, good weather, no incidents only memories and pictures to take home.  Then chortled around Reno looking for this and that, dinner at Applebees and a short visit to Walmart for sweaters.   After that, World Market and home to Circus Circus, our Reno home.    Oh yes! And we spent some time looking  at cars.  Chevrolet.    Car salesmen are car salesmen.   Everywhere.    

Got on the road bright and early the next day, stopped at Walmart for food n stuff, and into the desert and the most beautiful road on the planet.   Still.    After twelve years of travelling on it.    Home was safe and sound and the weather was kind.    We usually just make it home with a ghastly storm on our tails!

Cigarettes

August 5 2013

50 years of Delusion.

We have just said farewell to my friend of fifty years, Pam.   She came here all the way from South Africa to visit us.   I’m still not very sure why.    I understand that she is not well, that she is a bit addle-pated from taking epilepsy medication for heaven knows how long, but the underlying contempt, lack of respect and total disregard for anything I told her, from the sublime to the ridiculous, has left me reeling.

I really have believed all these years that she cares for me.   That she even likes me.  That all the effort I have put into being a good friend to her has had some meaning.   Not true.   She has no idea, whatsoever, who I am.  Where I stand on anything.   How I feel about the world, how I feel about her son and mine, how much I love them both and my gorgeous daughter,  what motivates me.    Even which God I believe in.    Just no clue.    So, it was with a heavy heart and much lightened shoulders that I kissed her dessicated old cheek goodbye at Reno Tahoe Airport on Saturday.    The end of a chapter.

Goodbye, Pammie.   Hope your cigarettes keep you warm.

2013, so far

45875 County Road 1

Lake City CA 96115

U  S  A

2 February 2013

My Very Dear Chillins, Friends and Family,

A month into the near year already and I’m only a year or so behind with writing to you….

Its still cold and gloomy here, but there’s a definite sense of Spring in the air.   People in the Valley are talking about going to Death Valley to see the flowers, Canada Geese are passing through with the help of the cow’s feed lines in the fields.   We’ve seen a huge herd of antelope moving East on the far side of the Causeway and I am SURE the cranes will be home any day now.

Everything is much the same, we’re older, not much wiser, well and happy.   It is that scary time of year when income and work is a tad sweaty, but it will certainly improve any minute now.   Got a coupla cottage bookings, made a heap of knitted goods for the Shop and a boxful of Barbie clothes for Morgan. 

The new bathroom and studio in the attic certainly work well.    I’ve enjoyed both not enough.   Have  made a huge effort to get back into making rugs, I do love to do that.   And I have no doubt that I will get better at it, in time.  

Major events for 2013 – so far.    One new baby in Johannesburg, Jasmine Modise.    One in Portland, Hudson Rivas.   A wedding in Pakistan, an appendix operation in Pinetown, a new job in Pietermaritzburg, one more chance to get it right in Durban, a grandson with a broken leg (I REALLY dislike trampolines near small children) another new baby any time now in England and a continued fight against the Big C by several friends.  We continue to pray for their success. 

Russ has ripped up the carpets in the living room and painted the floor, we’ve organized new shelves for books and cd’s in the office and I am the proud owner of a new RussMade cabinet for my cast iron ware next to the cookstove in the kitchen.

Next week I have to springclean the Cottage top to bottom and give all the kitchen things (cottage’s) a thorough wash.

I have applied for permission to sell my jams and chutneys and whatever else comes to mind – apparently the California laws on Cottage industry has changed this year.   Good News!  It wll mean more work, and also more opportunity to swell the old income.   Yes, please. 

We’ll go to Yellowstone for a week at the end of April and then in June, my best friend Pamela will be here for a whole two months!   What a time it will be.

The Inauguration of President Obama was just marvelous.  I watched all day – would you believe they stopped tv coverage the minute the really good stuff was about to happen.   The Balls, the dresses, the guest  entertainers.    Never has a TV set in this house come closer to being demolished!  

I’m writing this on such a cunning device.    Its called an Alphasmart.   Developed for children who don’t have laptops, to answer exam questions on and type projects,   Its very sturdy, a little larger than a keyboard, runs on a battery which recharges when you plug it into your computer to download your stuff.   It doesn’t get hot, either and wouldn’t mind if you dropped it now and then.    I was sold on it, firstly because its SCAAAAAADS cheaper than a laptop and secondly because I read reviews from journalists who were particularly pleased with it because its so tough and because it has no cords or wires and you can use it absolutely anywhere, even the middle of a warzone without any trouble. 

Sad thing, apparently the trapper shot 100 cyotes in the space of three or four ranches and one of our little fox friends was run over by a car. All is not lost, though.    We still have one fox and I heard coyotes really close to the house last night.  

As soon as it stops freezing I will have to  paint the porches of both houses  and stain both decks.   Maybe Pam will enjoy playing with a paintbrush while she’s here?  Inbetween all the gallivanting I plan to do. 

Our grandchildren all seem to be OK, aside from Ocean’s little broken leg.  Mitchell visited South Africa in December and since his return to the UK I have had two whole words from him.   “Hey hey”.  My cup runneth over.  

We attended a delicious concert in Eagleville last Wednesday.  Corb Lund and the Hurtin’ Albertans.  It was my first real  Cowboy hoedown foot stompin rootin tootin dance in the Valley and you’ll be proud to know I took to it like a duck to water.   AND my feet didn’t hurt a bit the next day.   Russ looked a little worse for wear, but he was just fine too.   SUCH fun.  

Oh, Almost forgot, daughter in law Amber (she of the appendix scare) was offered a job by the school Damon attends.   Thrilled for her.   Teaching is what she WANTS to do with her life.  Lucky Damon, to have Mommy close by.  And Laurel and Shaun have finally taken wing with their business.   Apparently orders from all over the world are coming in.

Isn’t it amazing how small the world has become?  This letter will go to New Zealand, , South Africa, New York, Detroit, Namibia and Costa Rica.  My parents would’ve blanched at the thought of crossing the Limpopo.

I found a step relative in Sierra Leone the other day!   Go figure.

And now, I think my writing obligations may have been discharged, for now.

My love and good wishes come with this to all of you.   Have a great 2013!

Jan